When searching for a job, resumes, application forms and a plethora of interviews are standard fare. But in the tightening job market for some occupations, SAT scores and GPAs have begun to figure in more prominently over the last few years.
"When you have a greater supply of job applicants and a lesser supply of jobs, employers tend to be more particular and look for other ways to screen top applicants," Career Services Director James McBride said. "We saw an increase in the consideration of SAT scores a couple of years ago. As the economy strengthens, we may see a decline in this trend."
According to the National Associations of Colleges and Employer's Job Outlook 2004, employers rank communication skills, honesty/integrity, interpersonal skills, motivation and initiative, and a strong work ethic as the top five things they look for in a potential hire.
SAT scores, while unable to provide employers with insight with regards to those five categories, do work as a screening process to weed out candidates, McBride said.
MicroStrategy, a McLean-based business, states in its job postings that SAT scores of 1,300 or higher and a college GPA of 3.5 or higher are strongly preferred. Likewise, D. E. Shaw, a New York-based firm, asks applicants to submit SAT scores and GPA along with resumes.
Certain career fields, however, are more likely to ask for SAT scores than others, according to Carrie Rudder, assistant director of Student Services at UCS.
"It really depends on the career field," Rudder said. "Typically there is not much interest in SAT scores, except for in the financial and consulting fields."
But there are always exceptions to the rule.
"Capital One, a major Virginia employer, always asks for SAT scores," McBride said. McBride added that even if a company does not ask for SAT scores, sometimes they use onsite aptitude tests to measure a student's general ability.
For students whose board scores are less then perfect, however, there is no need to worry, McBride said.
"SAT scores are going to be just one factor that goes into the huge formula employers use when figuring out who to hire," McBride said. "They will also look at GPA, resume, application forms, how well they interview and if they seem to fit into the company dynamic when they interview onsite."
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